Maserati GranTurismo S Automatic 2dr Car Review - February 2012

The driving experience you get in the GranTurismo is very good, and it does handle like a much smaller vehicle, with the steering responding quickly and accurately, although it doesn't offer quite as much feedback as other cars. This is largely because the suspension is generally designed to be comfortable and the GranTurismo is designed as civilised transportation rather than as an outright sports car. The driving position can be adjusted to suit every individual, but the thick windscreen pillars can reduce visibility, which is a problem in such a big car.

The 4.7 litre engine is a very powerful machine, and although it is an automatic the advanced engineering means that it doesn't lose performance. The acceleration from 0-62mph is a very quick 5.0 seconds, and the top speed is an impressive 183mph.

The car's large bonnet is fronted by a large air vent which has vertical dividers. Combine this with the sculpted headlight clusters and the front of the GranTurismo looks agressive. Inside the car the Maserati GranTurismo is a feast of sumptuous leather which gives the car a high quality feel. It is also supplied with alloy wheels as standard, which are essential on a car like this.

The luxuries included with the car are impressive, with satellite navigation and Bluetooth connectivity available. It is also delivered with power heated seats, climate and cruise control and a CD stereo which has a built in hard drive. The rear parking sensor is of course very important, but those who struggle with parking may want to add the front parking sensor too, as this is a vehicle that is nearly five metres long.

The GranTurismo is more practical than a straight-up sports car, and the space in the back means that it is possible to seat four people quite comfortably. The boot space is a little limited, but could accommodate one or two cases if required.

Although the Maserati GranTurismo hasn't been subjected to the Euro NCAP safety test, it is equipped with plenty of safety equipment including a range of airbags and plenty of driver aids that will help to keep all four wheels on the road. Maserati hasn't always had a great reputation for reliability, but they have stated that the GranTurismo is simpler than predecessors, so there is less to go wrong.

The list price for this version is £88,640, a roughly similar price to the GranTurismo's rivals.

This is a very expensive car to run, and the 4.7 litre engine is only able to deliver fuel efficiency of an average 18.6mpg. The insurance premiums will also be quite significant, with the GranTurismo in insurance group 50. This is largely irrelevant as if you're buying the GranTurismo to save money, you're insane. This is a desirable car and, as such, residuals should be strong.